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Soils host a large and diverse community of microorganisms, collectively known as the soil microbiome. The microbiome connects to human health through its effects on the productivity and nutrient density of crops and its role as an important source of compounds for treating human disease. The soil microbiome is also home to many pathogens to human and interacts with soil contaminants that can pose risks to human health. A committee of the National Academies will review the state of knowledge on linkages between soil health and human health and explore the potential benefits of soils’ microbial resources to human health.
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Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health
Consensus Study Report
·2024
The United States is an important food producer globally, in part because of its abundance of agriculturally productive soils. However, management practices that maximize yields have caused losses in soil organic matter, poor soil structure and water-holding capacity, and increased salinity on milli...
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